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Naturally I would much rather have spent the majority of my time covering the Cowboys run to the Super Bowl, but things are what they are, so most of my recent time has been invested in prepping for the 2014 NFL Draft.
Here at Blogging The Boys, the front page writers are committed to doing whatever it takes to make sure that our loyal readers (who really are the heart and soul of this community) remain among the most informed and knowledgeable football fans in the known universe. In that spirit, we strive to go above and beyond your expectations and deliver you the best product that we possibly can. With you the reader in mind, and with the benefit of frequent bouts of insomnia, I have spent many hours over the last several months looking at film of some of the top college football talent that the NCAA has to offer. After the sacrifice of sleep and the torture of watching muscular, well conditioned young men running around in tight pants for hours on end, it is my pleasure to present for your viewing pleasure the first annual edition of "D-Mac's Top 100 College Prospects."
Keep in mind, that the current rankings are based solely on how each player acquitted himself during the regular college season and in bowl games. Since that time, we have witnessed some players, primarily Jimmy Garoppolo, make a significant move during the annual East - West Shrine Game (Earning himself a trip to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama to compete against the "big boys" for his efforts.). Now others, led by Pitt DT Aaron Donald, are increasing their value during the practice sessions at the Senior Bowl.
If asked to pick one player who really dominated today, it'd be Pitt DT Aaron Donald. But, that's what he did all year too.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 21, 2014
Others whom I have ranked well are under-performing and as a result their draft stock is taking a hit.
#ASU DT Will Sutton "looked lethargic and heavy legged" at #SeniorBowl. http://t.co/Gg3yQreaSn
— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) January 21, 2014
The key thing to remember is that everything remains in flux. What is soon will not be. After the Senior Bowl, everything will be revised and new favorites will emerge. Such is the nature of the beast, but by publishing this list now, it will give us a means to compare how an event like the Senior Bowl can have a dramatic impact on a player's standing, both in the eyes of the fans and eventually from the perspective of NFL teams.
That is a lesson that I suspect a certain Alabama quarterback is going to learn the hard way.
Report: A.J. McCarron passed on Senior Bowl because he believes he'll be a top-20 pick http://t.co/V***mmscj5
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 17, 2014
While McCarron is now claiming that injury concerns, and not draft status motivated his choice to not play in his home town of Mobile, with rumors circulating that there are some un-revealed character issues with the Alabama QB, there is little doubt that his "No-Show" is catching the attention of the very NFL executives that will be deciding his future.
In addition to the guys who are hindering themselves, a few guys are making a statement that they belong in the league. One in particular is a player out of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri (yes, I had to look it up).
Lindenwood CB Pierre Desir is showing he can play with the big guys at the Senior Bowl. For sure day 2 pick, pressing to be a day 1 pick.
— NFL Philosophy (@NFLosophy) January 22, 2014
Based on the research I have done so far, thanks to some technical assistance from my friend and FPW colleague Tom Ryle, who took the time to work my rankings into a presentable table, I present my Pre-Senior Bowl Top 100.
Grading Scheme
Solid First Round
Borderline First Round
Second Round
Third Round
Fourth Round
Solid First Round
Borderline First Round
Second Round
Third Round
Fourth Round
Rank Player Position School Measurables Rank Player Position School Measurables
1
Jadeveon Clowney 1
DE S. Carolina 6'5" 272 lbs 51
Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh 6'0" 275 lbs
2
Teddy Bridgewater 2
QB Louisville 6'3" 218 lbs 52
Travis Swanson C Arkansas 6'4" 305 lbs
3
Jake Matthews 3
OT Texas A&M 6'5" 305 lbs 53
Troy Niklas TE Notre Dame 6'6" 270 lbs
4
Khalil Mack 4
OLB Buffalo 6'2" 244 lbs 54
Trevor Reilly DE Utah 6'4" 245 lbs
5
Sammy Watkins 5
WR Clemson 6'1" 205 lbs 55
Will Sutton DT Arizona St. 6'0" 195 lbs
6
C.J. Mosley 6
ILB Alabama 6'2" 232 lbs 56
Jarvis Landry WR Louisiana St. 6'1" 195 lbs
7
Anthony Barr 7
OLB UCLA 6'3" 238 lbs 57
Adrian Hubbard OLB/DE Alabama 6'5" 252 lbs
8
Greg Robinson 8
OT Auburn 6'5" 320 lbs 58
Ed Reynolds FS Stanford 6'2" 205 lbs
9
Blake Bortles 9
QB Central Fla. 6'3" 230 lbs 59
Jack Mewhort DT Ohio St. 6'5" 310 lbs
10
Johnny Manziel 10
QB Texas A&M 6'1" 200 lbs 60
Adrian Hubbard OLB/DE Alabama 6'5" 252 lbs
11
Ra'Shede Hageman 11
DT Minnesota 6'5" 302 lbs 61
Zack Martin OG Notre Dame 6'4" 305 lbs
12
Marqise Lee 12
WR S. California 6'0" 195 lbs 62
Brandin Cooks WR Oregon St. 5'10" 186 lbs
13
Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix 13
FS Alabama 6'1" 208 lbs 63
Tre Mason RB Auburn 5'10" 207 lbs
14
Darqueze Dennard 14
CB Michigan St. 5'11" 188 lbs 64
Terrance Mitchell CB Oregon 6'0" 190 lbs
15
Louis Nix III 15
DT Notre Dame 6'3" 357 lbs 65
Paul Richardson WR Colorado 6'1" 172 lbs
16
Eric Ebron 16
TE N. Carolina 6'r" 245 lbs 66
Kelsey Quarles DT S. Carolina 6'3" 293 lbs
17
Kony Ealy 17
DE Missouri 6'5" 275 lbs 67
Chris Smith DE Arkansas 6'2" 266 lbs
18
Cyrus Kouandjio 18
OT Alabama 6'5" 312 lbs 68
DaQuan Jones DT Penn St. 6'3" 333 lbs
19
Mike Evans 19
WR Texas A&M 6'5" 225 lbs 69
Yawin Smallwood ILB Connecticut 6'2" 235 lbs
20
Jason Verrett 20
CB Texas Christian 5'10" 182 lbs 70
Christian Jones OLB Florida St. 6'3" 232 lbs
21
Stephon Tuitt 21
DE Notre Dame 6'5" 303 lbs 71
Carlos Hyde RB Ohio St. 6'0" 235 lbs
22
Taylor Lewan 22
OT Michigan 6'7" 302 lbs 72
Josh Mauro DE Stanford 6'6" 282 lbs
23
Allen Robinson 23
WR Penn St. 6'3" 204 lbs 73
Anthony Steen OG Alabama 6'3" 303 lbs
24
Jace Amaro 24
TE Texas Tech 6'5" 257 lbs 74
Marcus Roberson CB Florida 6'0" 178 lbs
25
Justin Gilbert 25
CB Oklahoma St. 6'0" 195 lbs 75
Brandon Coleman WR Rutgers 6'6" 220 lbs
26
Trent Murphy 26
DE Stanford 6'5" 261 lbs 76
Brett Smith QB Wyoming 6'2" 206 lbs
27
David Yankey 27
OG Stanford 6'5" 312 lbs 77
Aaron Colvin CB Oklahoma 6'0" 182 lbs
28
Derek Carr 28
QB Fresno St. 6'3" 212 lbs 78
Dominique Easley DT Florida 6'2" 280 lbs
29
Odel Beckham Jr. 29
WR Louisiana St. 6'0" 207 lbs 79
Dion Bailey SS S. California 6'0" 210 lbs
30
Timmy Jernigan 30
DT Florida St. 6'2" 298 lbs 80
Jackson Jeffcoat DE Texas 6'4" 245 lbs
31
Antonio Richardson 31
OT Tennessee St. 6'6" 332 lbs 81
Jarred Abbrederis WR Wisconsin 6'2" 188 lbs
32
Cyril Richardson 32
OG Baylor. 6'5" 335 lbs 82
Gabe Jackson OG Mississippi St. 6'3" 335 lbs
33
Ryan Shazier 33
OLB Ohio St. 6'2" 222 lbs 83
Michael Sam DE Missouri 6'5" 255 lbs
34
Scott Crichton 34
DE Oregon St. 6'3" 263 lbs 84
James Hurst OT N. Carolina 6'6" 310 lbs
35
Kyle Van Noy 35
OLB Brigham Young 6'3" 235 lbs 85
Ka'Deem Carey RB Arizona 5'10" 196 lbs
36
Calvin Pryor 36
FS Louisville 6'2" 208 lbs 86
Seantrell Henderson OT Miami (Fl.) 6'8" 345 lbs
37
Jimmy Garoppolo 37
QB E. Illinois 6'3" 222 lbs 87
Weston Richburg C Colorado St. 6'4" 298 lbs
38
Jeremiah Attaochu 38
OLB Georgia Tech 6'2" 240 lbs 88
Ahmad Dixon SS Baylor 6'0" 210 lbs
39
Lemarcus Joyner 39
CB Florida St. 5'8" 195 lbs 89
Anthony Johnson DT Louisiana St. 6'3" 305 lbs
40
Jordan Matthews 40
WR Vanderbilt 6'3" 205 lbs 90
Lache Seastrunk RB Baylor 5'10" 205 lbs
41
Bishop Sankey 41
RB Washington 5'10" 200 lbs 91
Chris Borland ILB Wisconsin 5'11" 242 lbs
42
Austin Seferian-Jenkins 42
TE Washington 6'6" 266 lbs 92
A.J. McCarron QB Alabama 6'3" 205 lbs
43
Kelvin Benjamin 43
WR Florida St. 6'5" 235 lbs 93
Victor Hampton CB S. Carolina 5'10" 202 lbs
44
Bradley Roby 44
CB Ohio St. 5'11" 193 lbs 94
Demarcus Lawrence OLB Boise St. 6'3" 245 lbs
45
Shane Skov 45
ILB Stanford 6'3" 242 lbs 95
Morgan Moses OT Virginia 6'6" 325 lbs
46
Ego Ferguson 46
DT Louisiana St. 6'3" 308 lbs 96
C.J. Fiedorowicz TE Iowa 6'6" 265 lbs
47
Xavier Su'a-Filo 47
OG UCLA 6'4" 295 lbs 97
Zach Mettenburger QB Louisiana St. 6'5" 230 lbs
48
Devonte Adams 48
WR Fresno St. 6'2" 205 lbs 98
Bruce Ellington WR S. Carolina 5'9" 196 lbs
49
Jeremy Hill 49
RB Louisiana St. 6'2" 235 lbs 99
Craig Loston SS Louisiana St. 6'2" 205 lbs
50
Kyle Fuller 50
CB Virginia Tech 6'0" 193 lbs 100
De'Anthony Thomas RB Oregon 5'9" 176 lbs
There you have it, folks. My take on the best talent that college football has to offer for the 2014 NFL Draft. As I mentioned before, things change, and we all know that there will be plenty of ups and downs between now and May 8th, when the draft kicks off. Along the way, you will see many other versions of lists just like mine, perhaps a couple of them generated by me and/or my colleagues here at Blogging The Boys. How close will we compare to the "experts" and the NFL teams themselves? Who knows, but that's half the fun of an exercise like this one. The best part of "Draft Season" is that it gives the fans, people like you and me, an opportunity to play scout and general manager. With very few exceptions, something like this is as close as we will ever come to living our dreams.
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